Current Programs and Activities

ASF serves students who live in and around the border city of Tijuana, Mexico. It gives priority to students from Hogar Infantil “La Gloria” and also extends assistance to students in the local community. All applicants must have good grades and go through an application process that includes an orientation and interview. Once they are accepted into the program they must continue to be responsible students, participate in monthly meetings, document their school progress and expenses and give volunteer service hours.

Monthly meetings are designed to help the students develop their skills and talents, form a sense of community with one another and grow in strength and confidence. These meetings are held at the Centro de Comunidad “El Tecolote” community center. The community center provides a meeting space for the students with access to kitchen facilities and a computer lab. The students are divided into teams and the university students who act as team leaders facilitate the teams. The university students form the Student Advisory Board and they are responsible for mentoring their teammates as well as assisting with administrative aspects of each meeting.

ASF also provides opportunities for the students to participate in community service activities in collaboration with the Centro de Comunidad “El Tecolote”. Work-study programs are also available for the students to earn more money towards their school expenses. Most recently students have worked and volunteered as tutors in the homework club, taught computer skills, helped set up the community library and staffed the Centro’s summer camp.

Organizational Accomplishments

ASF is staffed by only one part-time paid employee and depends heavily on volunteers. The organization is fortunate to have an extremely dedicated and very involved Board of Directors, willing volunteers and generous benefactors who have faithfully contributed over the years. Without all of these people working together ASF would not be what it is today. Since the inception of ASF the organization has always strived to improve and provide more than just monetary assistance for the students it serves. The students themselves are a tribute to what ASF has accomplished.Each year more than 90% of ASF participants complete the school year and more than 80% return for another year of study. Each year more and more students extend their studies. In 2001 our first participant completed college as an accountant. Maricela has since begun studies for her master’s degree. ASF celebrated our second college graduate in 2006 when Jesus graduated with a degree in medicine. Our 12 students currently enrolled in the university are not far behind. A volunteer is currently compiling our statistics so that in the future we can provide more specific data. ASF students are frequently recognized with diplomas for ranking first in their class. They have won speech contests, athletic competitions and science fairs at the city and state level. Most importantly they exhibit a desire to learn and to better themselves. They are appreciative of the assistance they receive and respond to the challenges they face and the requirements ASF expects of them with 100% effort and commitment. They are proud to participate in ASF and ASF is proud to be there for them.